The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-06-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

L uii Sld't W DC aDlS 10 Il lnot
Mr. Corcornn has recovered suilic-
icntly to seek tho cooling shades of
Deer Park he being unable to stand
the fatigue of the trip TO his usual
resort, the White sulphur Springs.
For the present the President
has discontinued his public rcccp-
tons, owing probably to the severe
ordeal ofsuch an undertaking, with
the thermometer dalying with the
nincticS.
1t has Just transpircd that during
Mr. JAY Gould's late mysterious Wis
it to this city, he really did II gcn-
erous and patriotic act, for which |
wish to give him. credit. While
vicwing Mt. Vernon, whore Wash
ington'S remains are cntonlbcd, Mr.
Gould, learning that u tract of land
contiguous to the estate was dcsir-
cd to protect the property from en-
croachmcnt, he ordered it bought
at his expense for $1,000 the own
crs.bcing Lawrence and Elizabeth
Washington, Observation-Disclosures
and niece Of the first President and
presented it to the ladies' of the Mt.
Vernon Association.
The grand jury of the District of
Columbia have, in their report, pre-
SCnteu the Post Onicc, Treasury,
and Interior Department buildings
as being in such abad sanitary con-
dition as to ~cndanger the health
and lives of the several thousand
employed Of those Departments,
and the Government Printing Of
flee, as we'll us some Of the theatres,
are pronounced nothing better
than human fire traps. In calling
the attention of Congress to the
matter, the grand jury will say that
if n private individual were rcSpOn-
Siblc for such 4 state OF affairs as
this, he would be indicted for main
tanning Il nuisance. The building
inspector had this to say on the
subject Of the printing office. at IS
the worst fire trap in the United
States, and n disgrace to the Gov
crnmcnt. That building is four
stories high, 300 feet long co feet
wide, and in the two upper stories
about 800 women work, and yet
thore is only one stairway for them
to escape by in case Of u fire.
Once mor the head Of the assas-
sin, Guitcau, hobs up topublic view,
and will be exhibited in q New
York Museum. 1t is said by those
familiar with the circumstances
that there can be no doubt of the
genuincnCsS of this head. The bones
OF the assassin were articulatcl and
placed in the Medical Museum Of
the National Capitol, where they
still remain, but it now is divulged,
that a doctor severed the head, and
perhaps other portions of the body
for speculative rather than scicnti-
fic purposes.
Pension Commissioner Black has
decided to exercise the authority
vested in him by law and to res
trict the legal fees in cases d At
torncys for Mexican PonsiOn-claims
to $50 though the law allows a fee
OF T2j, if such Il contract has been
madc, provided it is approved by
the Commissioner of pensions. But
General Black thinks the former
fee is enough in such cases and has
issued an order limiting fees in
these cases to that amount.
The business of the Interstate
Commission continues to grow and
has already reached proportions not
anticipated by its authors or mem
bcrs, and it is now believed that
the work will require the services
OF about WY clerks. There have
been nearly 5000 applications for
appointment to clcrKShip under the
Commission. Such vast and va
ricd intei CstS are committed to the
charge Of the Commission that it
will soOn be rightly considered one
OF the most important Bureaus of
the Government and one that will
continue to grew in popular favor.
lhcrc Is NlSmaV among the aged
and incapable clerks of the Navy
Department, for Secretary Whit
ncy announces his purpose to over
maui the whole force and clean out
I'll the barnaclcS and dead timber.
The Secretary seems to think that
this course, however unpopular
with those affected, is essential to
the successful administration of his
trust.
Recent developments convince
me that the Republicans are i'm
pressed with idea that their only
hope of success in 1873 is to agitatc
sectional issues and infamc the
mind Of the people Of the North
with the old war feeling. The first
step to this end is the Dependent
Pension Bill, the next its echo, the
battle flag howl, and the third will
be the conversion Ofthc Grand Ar
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